Dan Williams, Teller County Commissioner
Election season is over. Most of us exercised our constitutional right to choose representatives for office that best reflected our values and those we believe were best prepared to lead and solve the very real challenges facing our state, nation, and county.
The 2026 election season was full of both extreme highs and extreme lows. As of late 2026, U.S. federal candidtes spent a record $2.86 billion on races for the November 2026 midterm election. Much of this was in the form of social media, robo calls, signs and commercials that were inescapable. Most of what we endured was negative and focused on attacking the opponents of candidates instead of highlighting positive ideas to actually solve problems. The toxic nature of most of this negative campaigning came to our communities as well.
Sadly, candidates in both both parties also deployed personal insults and name-calling in heated midterm, state, and local election campaigns. Religion, gender, appearance, political ideology and even mothers were not off limits this time – a new low for American politics. Gone are the days when a quality candidate would highlight their own abilities and ideas without attacking their opponents. Once again, our children and first-time voters had a front row seat to the “adults in the room”.
Sadder still are those in our community who felt the need to attack others for not supporting their candidate. In a free society everyone should feel free to vote for a candidate without having to endure the anger of others simply because they don’t agree with a choice on a ballot. Family relationships were frayed, friendships ended, and heated debates in support or against candidates that most have never really met or even had a conversation with. Ideology not substance or ability seemed to be at the center of most of the disagreement and outright hostility against fellow Americans who simply saw it a different way. The election is over and we need to rediscover community and the cracks in the foundation must now be mended.
Despite those who would divide us we know that we are so much better than this. The recent flooding in 12 of Colorado’s 64 counties should serve as a real reminder that we have much more in common that some believe. The flood waters did not target republicans or democrats, and those emergency service professionals and the Colorado National Guard did not assist members of one party or another – they saved Coloradoans. In my 30 years in the military and multiple combat tours I served with thousands of Americans and never knew if they were republicans, democrats or uninterested. These were among the best people I have met in my life and represented the best of us, and we formed the best teams I have ever worked with. We cannot allow the freedoms we fought for to become reasons to divide us now.
Despite the anger that social media has enabled the truth is our newly elected leaders will need all voices at the table to solve the challenges facing us. Our community is stronger than any party and real leaders and representatives have shown that they will care for everyone in our community – even those that did not vote for them. Fighting our fires and evacuating residents, bringing oxygen and food to remote residents during a 4-foot snowstorm, or collecting food for those in need during the SNAP crisis is who we really are and must be again.
As the dark of winter approaches with the challenges we will surely face again, we need to mend fences, check on our neighbors, restore relationships and support the leaders that ‘we the people’ have chosen and just maybe things will get a little better for all of us.
Dan Williams is the District 1 County Commissioner and a retired US Army Colonel and multiple combat veteran.
